Gear Oil

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:32 am

Alright. Gear oil smells bad. No, check that, it smells downright nasty.
I finally loosened up my tranny filler/drain bolts. Examined the level, found it to be good. It stank badly though and was a non-translucent black-grey color. I compared it to some Gear oil we have in the garage, and the new stuff stank worse, but was translucent and dark amber in color.
Do I need new oil? How do I check the diffs? What viscosity would you recommend?

GTSSportCoupe · Post by **GTSSportCoupe** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 9:34 am

Typrus wrote: Alright. Gear oil smells bad. No, check that, it smells downright nasty.
I finally loosened up my tranny filler/drain bolts. Examined the level, found it to be good. It stank badly though and was a non-translucent black-grey color. I compared it to some Gear oil we have in the garage, and the new stuff stank worse, but was translucent and dark amber in color.
Do I need new oil? How do I check the diffs? What viscosity would you recommend?

It always smells bad new or old.

I would definitely recommend changing it based on the color you are seeing. It's probably never been changed. I would recommend putting in a cheap gear oil for a month or so to 'rinse' out your transmission. Then put in an expensive synthetic gear oil of your choice. Stick with the GL and weight rating of your owners manual (or the repair manual). I don't remember it off the top of my head 75W-90 GL4/5 or something. Use Redline, Royal Purple, Castrol, Amsoil, or whatever you like.

As far as proper draining and filling, refer to the repair manual. There are also many posts I remember seeing on this topic. Try a search to learn more.

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 3:47 pm

Change the oil before you lose your first gear, like I did. If there's one thing you don't want to take chances on, it's the transmission.

GTSSportCoupe · Post by **GTSSportCoupe** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 4:57 pm

3A-C Power wrote: Change the oil before you lose your first gear, like I did. If there's one thing you don't want to take chances on, it's the transmission.

Couldn't have said it better myself. The trans/front diff are the weakest and most expensive parts of the tercel. Take care of them!

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 9:10 pm

How much oil belongs in the front diff?
Errr.... When I engine brake, it holds in 5th through 2nd but occasionally pops back out in 1st. Is this a dying first gear?

I will use Amsoil. I have a big advocate of it.

GTSSportCoupe · Post by **GTSSportCoupe** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:12 pm

Typrus wrote: How much oil belongs in the front diff?
Errr.... When I engine brake, it holds in 5th through 2nd but occasionally pops back out in 1st. Is this a dying first gear?

I will use Amsoil. I have a big advocate of it.

The trans and front diff share the same oil supply (they are connected). You don't have to fill them seperately. As far as the volume that goes in...can't remember off the top of my head. Buy about 5 quarts and you should be ok. Double check in the repair manual tho.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:14 pm

Well, do I drain out of the diff drain, the front or rear tranny drain? Do I fill from the diff or trans filler?

GTSSportCoupe · Post by **GTSSportCoupe** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 9:32 am

Typrus wrote: Well, do I drain out of the diff drain, the front or rear tranny drain? Do I fill from the diff or trans filler?

Have you downloaded the REPAIR MANUAL?????? :blink: You could figure this out in about 5 seconds. The Repair Manual has been on our main page for months and months now. <_< You'll get the best answer from the manual.

Also, do a SEARCH. I'm positive that Takza or someone did a whole write-up on this topic. I'd find the link for you, but don't have time right now.

I just drain out of all of the plugs to make sure as much old oil as possible is gone. You then have to fill with one of those drains unscrewed 8 turns or something. Check the manual....

You seem very self sufficient in many aspects Typrus, but on other topics you seem to have no clue. It pays to do just a little bit of work and research on some of these things. The point of this board IS to answer questions, but not to repeat things that are easily available with a little bit of looking. You should know this by now having been on here for so long.

Good luck with it man. I know it sucks to have to start all over again with the new tercel you are driving, but it will pay off, and you'll learn lots.

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 8:46 pm

More the point of putting that out there was to see the reaction of whether or not it was screwy to have the extra drain and filler if they are joined.
Without reading the manual, which I've had since December;
Back the 19mm sized drain 8 turns before loosening others.
On level ground, open the transmission filler plug. The level of oil should be at or just slightly below the opening.

What I don't know off the top of my head is diff levels, which if they are a joined unit, doesn't matter, or which hole to fill from. Yes, I remember that somone voiced that you should not fill from one but always the other and something similar with draining.

I guess its just easier to ask than search, hoping someone else does know off the top of their head.

GTSSportCoupe · Post by **GTSSportCoupe** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:02 pm

Typrus wrote: More the point of putting that out there was to see the reaction of whether or not it was screwy to have the extra drain and filler if they are joined.
Without reading the manual, which I've had since December;
Back the 19mm sized drain 8 turns before loosening others.
On level ground, open the transmission filler plug. The level of oil should be at or just slightly below the opening.

What I don't know off the top of my head is diff levels, which if they are a joined unit, doesn't matter, or which hole to fill from. Yes, I remember that somone voiced that you should not fill from one but always the other and something similar with draining.

I guess its just easier to ask than search, hoping someone else does know off the top of their head.

Typrus, here is the post I was refering to. Takza did a big write up a while ago. I hope it helps you out. <a href='http://tercel4wd.com/invision/index.php ... &f=7&t=283' target='_blank'>http://tercel4wd.com/invision/index.php ... 7&t=283</a>

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:18 pm

Well, ramps and jack it is for me!

I'm thinking of a fully Synth setup, most likely Amsoil. Might add some Hyperlube. We'll see.

Well, next question. I see temps ranging from 110 F ambient to -25 F ambient. What kind of viscosity should I look for? Amsoil says that even their thickest stuff won't become solid or pasty till well below what I see, but that doesn't mean that they won't flow well at -25. Can anyone recommend something that won't be water at the highs or gel at the lows?